Continuous cooker



AAAI. 'VY' Ann 5 Sheets-Sheet l L. HENLEY CONTINUOUS COOKER I Filed Feb. 24, 1941 Nov. 2, 1943.

Nov. 2, 1943. L. HENLEY 2,333,175

CONT INUOUS COOKE R Filed Feb. 24, 1941 5 sheets-sheet s Zfl y 157 g5 Y? 7 J5 ,iff/ fil@ 7 3 if iff/a@ if n I HUII In i g i 4f i i Ji :I 1| 97 Ilullllllllll O ya i i 197177 I 5335 :755' zi Je D 1 l I y. f zmefzart .Lawrence #envi/eg, u ffii/e5 E Y 4 m M of.

Nov. 2, 11943. Hl-:NLl-:Y 2,333,175

` CONTINUOUS cooKER Filed Feb. 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 if a L.. HENLEY CONTINUOUS COOKER Filed Feb. 24, 1941 Nov. 2, y1941?.

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Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT e OFFICE t CONTINUOUS `COOKER Lawrence Henley, Chicago, Ill. Application February 24, 1941, Serial No. 380,390

t 17 Claims.

This invention relates to a new article of food and to a novel apparatus or continuous broiler for the same.

An object of the invention is to produce a new article of food in which the meat is formed i in elongated oval shape of circular cross-section or in oppositely tapered round mass or loaf for insertion between the halves of a long roll and to provide an apparatus or continuous broiler with means whereby the meat is held in `juxtaposition to a heating element and continuously turned as they are moved in an endless path or orbit around the heating element for broiling or cooking the same during a required period of time between the placing and removal thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or equipment which is a self-contained unit or fixture in which the prepared meat or food in fmelygrofund form is mounted upon skewers or spindles upon which the same are l moved around the heating element in an orbital or planetary path so .as to thoroughly cook the same without the necessity of using butter or other forms .of ,grease ordinarily used in frying and permitting the excess vjuices to thoroughly pass through the food or meat and produce a much more edible and more easily digestible food product in form to be applied between the halves of a long roll which can be more .conveniently handled and eaten. t

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous broiler which .embodies a xture in which the broiling is .done and which `is protected on all sides from exposure to. unsanitary conditOIlS, .clust` or .dirt and which is supported in convenient position for access upon a base ,and provided with means for .conveniently inserting thespindles or skewers with the meat mass formed thereon to be moved about the heater and for removing .the same from .the machine after complating the path of travelY around the heater or burner completely and properly cooked for placing between the halvesof a long roll and to .pro- .Vide means thereabove in the form ,of a Aheating cabinet receiving heat from the aforesaid .heater forstorage .of the cooked food and maintain the same in a clean and sanitary condition until sold for consumption.

Another object of the invention is -to provide novel spindles or skewers for forming -or holding the meat or other food thereon for convenient insertion and removalior cooking and after being cooked by a broiling process and for mounting the saine not only to be moved in -a continuous and endless path around `the broiler heating element but also to be continuously turned to expose al1 sides of the vfood toward `the heater to insure proper cooking thereof and to automatically remove the sa-me from the machine, as `Well as to provide means for eieotively stopping the action of the machine manually or Vautomatically and turning oif the heater especially in the event that the skewers with the meat thereon properly broiled have not been removed from the takeoff device and the apparatus is iill'led to capacity, so as to prevent jamming or infiury to the machine and destruction of the food.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means -for conveniently placing-the skewers cr'spindles in position with the food thereon `to be carried around in Vthe machine and for automatically releasing the same at Athe end of the path of movement when the broil-ing operation is completed and also means y-for carrying off juices draining from the food during the cooking operation.

Another object oi the invention iis to provide a continuous broiler which is entirely closed Aexcept for an opening through Awhich the spindles or skewers with the meat .thereon maybe inserted or removed and :to provide an apparatus 'for 1erliciently handling a large volume economically.

Further obj ects and advantages `vvill appear .and ibe .brought out more fully in .the following specification, reference `being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front or side elevation of a continuous broiler and showing thesame in position during the broiling operation;

Fig. A2 is .a wiring diagram :for electrically con, trolling the operation of kamotor for ydrinn-ig the apparatus or maschine constituting Ea broiler;

Fig. '3 is a wiring diagram of the heating or broiling element and switch for controlling the same;

Fig. 4 is .a horizontal plan section taken .on .the line `4--11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. `5 is asimilar View .taken Von the line 5-.5 of Fig. 1 l

Eig. .6 is an enlarged transverse vertical section Vtaken/.on the line r-BIJFig i Fig. 13 is a section of a spindle taken on the.

line IIS- i3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a section of a circuit breaker; and

Fig. 1'5 is a section of a switch for controlling the motor for driving the mechanism of the broiler. f

Referring to the drawings in detail, the broiler, apparatus or machine includes a cabinet I6 of rectangular or other suitable outline havinga bottom portion or chamber l, a clean-out chamber I8 anda broiler chamber I9 above which is disposed a heating cabinet or Warming oven 20 preferably positioned above the heating element to ber hereinafter more fully described. The bottom portion or chamber which is in the form of a cabinet or shell has a front wall 2i, ends 22 and a rear wall 23 and theftop 2d thereofhas an oval opening, although this opening may be of circular or other shape. Also, While I have shown the machine mounted so `that the food is arranged vertically to passhorizontally around a broiler or heating-element.' it is to be understood that the same may be arranged or turned horizontally with equal or greater facility so long as the formed articles oi food are supported and passed around the heating element in an endless or continuous patheither of oval or circular outline or other orbital path and by a planetary action or otherwise. each article ofy food continuously revolved or turned in passing about the heating element to expose all portions of the food tothe bro-iling action of the heating element. Above the bottom cham.- ber H a suitably inclined wall or drain 25 may be provided for carrying olf juices or particles of food which may drop duringk the operation and which may pass through a drain 25 into a bucket or other container 2l suitably positioned or mounted in one end of the bottom chamber or compartment and rendered accessible as will be described later. While as previously described, I have shown the apparatus of oval outline, Vit is to be understood that any continuous or circular path may be described and that the same is comprehended within the spirit of the invention. As shown, a channel 2S is provided around an opening in the top of the .bottom chamber or compartment Il providing an opening in the center and having a continuous form with an inner depending portion for supporting a vertical wall 29 with an inturned top flange 3E) over which is positioned a plate 3! inclined downwardly in an outward direction for drain purposes of cleaning. Heating elements 32, preferably in the form of anelectric broiler.' although other suitable'forms of burners may be employed, are positioned above the plate 3| so as to terminate short of the annular top portion 2li. The heating elements are arranged in annular form outwardly oi a vertical metallic or other shell 32a having a bottom ange supported ony the plate 3l over' the iiange Si) or otherwise and Isuitablyv ribbed or braced at the inside in the manner of a frame work with suitable supporting arms and insulation. The top of the wall is provided with brackets 33 providing a space 34 above the wall 32a through which heat from the heating elements may pass between the top of the wall and an annular or oval ring 35 mounted on the brackets and supporting the heating cabinet or warming oven 2B. It is to be understood that the heating cabinet may cover any desired area although shown supported upon the ring-35 over a central opening therein and the heating element or broiler so that the heat will pass thereinto. An angular `lower rack 36 with external teeth is supported upon the channel 28 and an upper rack 31 is mounted upon the annular member 35. An

angular-guide 38 which is also of annular form is supported over the top of the rack 3B and an angular ilange 39 is mounted against the walls of the chamber El to extend inwardly and produce an oval opening in the center in the same plane as the guide 3.8 and concentric thereto while the guide S8 is conjunction with an angular top plate lil supported on the flange 39 forms an inverted channel having a continuous annular or oval slot 42 with a T-shaped guideway 43 therebeneath.

The walls 2i, 22 and 23 support a frame 44 having panels l5 preferably in the form of a glass wall part of which 136 is in the form of a removable panel or door slidably mounted and removable vertically at the top. Over a door opening 4l preferably disposed near one end of the broiler chamber i9 is a hinged paneld of glass or otherwise constituting a door, the same being preferablyhinged at the bottom to swing down out of the way when the broiler or apparatus is in use for obtaining access for inserting and removing the broiled food. The bottom track produced by the annular angular members or guides 38 and i is inclined downwardly as shown at 49 adjacent the back and curved end portion of the track way and at a corresponding position terminates at the point 5U while the front end is maintained in the same plane and terminates at the point-,5I with an intervening or interposed horizontal plate 52 at the saine level as vthe base of the inclined portion closed, that is, vnot'provided with the slot l2 but spaced in a plane below the end El. An angular flange 53 is secured to the annular supporting ring 35 and a corresponding angular flange 5:3 is secured to the top ring Eil forming a slot 55, said parts depending below the top rings 2t and 35 and producing a channel' or track way continuously around the heating element of the broiler. A

Yhorizontal flange ,56 with a vertical lportion 5l forms an endless'track way on Ythe ring 24 for a suitable drive member or chain to be later described, the same as in connection with the walls of theV chamber il and the ring or angular plate lll at the bottom. The portions 3l, 53, 511. and 51 also forma T-shaped vguideway 58 having a rim 59 so as to cover the top of the track way outwardly of said guideway. An .inner ring 6B of angular cross section is secured in position to close the inner portion of the track'way over the rack 3l. The construction producing vthe guide- Ways, track ways and slots are similarly formed at the top and bottom butin opposed or reversed positions. An inclined portion'ftijjeirtends beyond the inclined portion 59; or 'ispositioned in radvance thereof: so that 'areleasingaction to be lhereinafter describedY Willjtake place -at vthe bottom' prior to a releasing action at the top for Athefspindle or skewer holding V:means to be later described. The track way at the top terminates at the point 62 beyond but corresponding to the end` 0 at the bottom and `a similar end portion 63 corresponds to the end 5| except that there is provided an intervening or interposed raised part or horizontal wall 64 corresponding to the horizontal plate 52 at the bottom but with a continuation of the slot 55 to free the ends of the spindles or skewers at the topas will be later described. Endless ldrive members or chains 65 are disposed inthe tracks to travel around the walls 40 and 51 and in the narrow channels produced between the same `and the` outer walls of the cabinet. Both the` upper and `lower chains are driven by means of sprockets 66 engaging the links of the chains near one end and back portion above the top wall 24 and below the flange 39 in the bottom. Y These sprockets are carried on a vertical shaft 61 journaled in a bearingk sleeve 68 between said walls `and held by upper and lower collars 69. The shaftis journalefd in a bearing at them-bottom and carries a sprocket 1| on the lower endyaround which a chain 12 is trained to engage a sprocket 13 on a suitably driven short vertical shaft 14 which is adapted to be driven from a motor at reduced speed. This shaft is `shown journaled in a bearing 15 of a gear reduction casing 'i6` and bears a beveled pinion 11 meshing with a beveled gear 10 on a horizontal counter shaft 10 and bearing a spur gear 30 meshing with apinion 8i on a stud shaft 82. `carries a geai1 83 which meshes with a gear 84 on `a motor shaft 85 of a motor 86 shown in the form ,of an electric motor so that the shaft 14 is driven at a reduced speed. In the form shown, the speed of the shaft 14 is one-twelfth of that of the motor. The chains or endless drive members 65 carry at suitably spaced intervals inwardly extending arms 8S with bearing rings 90 at their inner ends in which hubs 8| turn. These hubs or bearingsleeves 0| are formed as iianges extending from gears '92 which are positioned to roll or travel around the racks 36 and 31 in a continuous annular path or orbit in the manner of a planetary gear. Thus, while the chains are moved in the tracks at the top and bottom and thus cause rotation of the gears as they roll around the racks, the lower chains are supported by a ring 93 beneath the lower track, the top of the lower track at the ring 4| being closed. A plunger 94 is adapted to move axially in each hub and constitutes part of `means for holding the spindles or skewers with the meat or other food thereon. These plungers are splined as at 95 to turn with the gears 92 and the hubs of the latter are provided with counter bores 9S while a collar 91 on the outer end `of each plunger engages the hub to keep the plunger from dropping out `of position at the top or moving out of position upwardly at the bottom under the action of springs 98 which are disposed between the shoul- Aderef the counter bore 96 and an enlargement or flange 99 extending `outwardly from the opposite ends `of the plungers and so that the springs acti-ng thereon will normally tend to force the plungers in 4opposite directions up and down toward each other. These plungers are preferably beveled at the inside as shown in somewhat rounded 'oroconvexformation and have sockets |00 with flared mouth portrions to facilitate or guide the ends of the spindles therein or the hubs .over the yends of the spindles. Spring pressed grip- `ping'members or detents |0| in the form of spring pressed balls which are adjustable .are provided in the plungers 94 '-to engage the ends of spindles, Vpins 4or skewers |502 which lare provided with de- This stud shaft Iis pressions |03 vcorrespondingly located for 'this purpose. These spindles or Vskewers are preferably in the form of circular `metal rods: with means; preferably in the form of peripheral pro.-I jections or radial wings |04 keyed or sweated in grooves therein or otherwise suitably .form-ed at -equidistantly spaced points and tapering toward their. opposite ends so as to hold the meat |05 thereon. `Of course, it isto be understood that any form ofground food but preferably beef in finely or doublyground form mixed with suitable material to cause the same to better adhere to the spindles, may be :employed and compressed in a mass thereon or in a suitable mold-in proper shape but preferably of oppositely tapered -oval form of `circular cross section, thus producing a new article of food especially designed for yinsertion between the `halves lof a long roll which will facilitatein holding and eating the same.

As before stated, the door opening at 41 is provided for inserting and removing the spindles with the fresh uncookedmeat thereon and after the same have been broiled. In order to facilitate insertion andinsure proper alignment of the ends of the spindles with the sockets |00of the plungers 94, grooved guide shoes |06 may beprovided at the top and bottom of the broiling chamber at the front to guide the ends of the lspindles between spring holders consisting of spring arms |01 with which cooperate hinged or pivoted spring arms |08 which may fold down inthe direction of travel of the spindles with the-chains so as to release the spindles when engaged in the sockets of the plungers by release of the `latter atv the proper time and simultaneously in passing the ends 5| and 63 of the tracks which will permit the inner ends of the hubs to ride off of thesame and `move inwardly in opposite directions under the action of the springs 98 limited byengagement of the collars 91 with the hubs 9|.` At this time the balls or detents I0| will Vengage .the depressions |03 and cause the spindles to be held vand turned with the gears 66 as the latter turn or revolve about their axes and roll on the racks 35 and 31. A stop |09 is providedbetween the spring arms |01 and |08 to limit the return movement of the pivoted arm |08 toward the arm |0| right angles to release the spindles. These parts are mounted upon a plate or bracket H0 upon the rings 38 and 53.

The take-off` device to automatically remove the spindles and broiled food from the endless carrier which moves them around the Abroiler includes a concaved receiving drum'V the ccn caved lateral wall being made to pass convex formation of the food |05. This drum is mounted on the'shaft 14 and has top and bottom iianges or heads ||2 spaced apart so as to grip the ends of the spindles beyond the meat thereon within the track ways. These heads are also fixed to the upper and lower portions of the shaft 14 which is mounted at its upper and lower ends through the walls 34 and 39. A supporting plate ||4 is provided at the bottom and has an arcuate recess in 'one edge to fit against the lower track at the T-shaped track `way and to support the spindles at their lower ends when removed from the sockets of the plungers. The heads ||2 are provided with curved notches ||5 having hook portions `|16 which engage and remove the spindles so that the spindles will pass into the crotches of the notches.

As` previously described; the motor `86 i is preferably anelectric motor and the heating` elements of the broiler are also preferably resistancewires or coils. The cabinet is provided with a socket ||1 Corresponding to an ordinary wall socket from which conductors ||8 and H9 extend with an interposed switch |2for manual control of the circuit to the motor 86 and a circuit breaker |2| `which is automatically operated by the spindles to break the circuit to the motor and stop the machine in the event that the'spindles should not be removed from the take-off device to prevent jamming and injury. Current is supplied by an extension cord |22 which is plugged into the sock The circuit breaker |2| includes a spring held plunger |23 having a cam |24 mounted upon the plate 39 and having a stationary contact |25, and a movable Contact |26 carried by the plunger |23 so that when the plunger is depressed by engagement with the lower end of a spindle, the contact |26 is moved out of engagement with the contact |25 to break the circuit. Removal of the spindle will, of course, permit the circuit to be normally closed by engagement of the contacts. Arms |21 are provided at the top and bottom of the frame supporting the plate 32a arranged to carry the conductors for the heating elements and an asbestos or other insulation sheet |28 is provided against the wall 32a to insure-that most of the heat will be radiated outwardly for broiling the meat on the spindles. the cabinet for connection with lower and upper conductors |30 and |3| with an interposed switch |32 to control the circuit connected to the heating elements and current may be derived from an extension cord |33 which is plugged into the socket |29. vA removable panel or door |34 is provided for the bottom chamber for obtaining access to the bucket 21.k Hinged cleanfout doors |35 are provided in the chamber It and hinged doors |36 may be provided for the heating cabinet or warming oven 2@ or omitted if desired. This warming oven or heating cabinet is provided with racks or shelves |31 permitting the passage of heat while adapted to support the meat or other food which are thereby maintained in a heated, edible and sanitary condition.

In the operati-on of the apparatus or machine constituting the continuous 'broiler as described, the meat or other food is applied to the'spindles and retainedby the wings thereof in suitable oppositely tapered or cylindrical form as shown. These spindles are then passed into the grooved guides It While the machine is operating. In the arrangement shown,y the take-oirl drumV will rotate approximately vthree times for each eight revolutions Vof the sprocket Wheels 6B and each complete operation of the endless carrier but any other suitably proportionate driving arrangement may be employed. .By passing the spindles into the guideshoes |56 they are engaged with the spring arms or holding clips |61 and |08. Previously,.the plungers Sil have been moved outwardly, that is, the'upper plunger upwardly and the lower vplunger downwardly to separate lthem a distance greater than the length of a spindle, the lower plungerbeing moved downwardly immediately prior to the upward movement ofthe' upper plunger by passing down the inclined surface or end 49. The upper plunger is then disengaged by moving along the inclined surface' 6|, the purpose of this `being to support the spindles until they have been 'engaged in the notches ||5 and moved over the plate ||4 out of the continuous path traveled'by the gears 92." The plungers are held in this posi-4 A socket |29 is also provided on tion so as to release the spindles bythe horizontal outwardly pressed plate portions 52 and t at the curved end of the track until said plungers ride oif of the end portions adjacent the positionat which the spindles are held by the spring clamps. The plungers are thus simultaneously released so that the springs 98 will move the plungers inwardly toward each other in opposite directions, the upper plungers moving downwardly and the lower plungers moving upwardly so that the socketed ends thereof will engage over the ends of the spindles so as to be in Va position to move along with the chains and gears 'of the endless carrier by collapsing the arm Hi8 in the advancing direction. The spindles will then be carried along around the broiler or heating element to cook the food or meat thereon and simultaneously revolved by engagement of the gears with the racks as they are moved with the chains so as to present all sides of the food to the broiler burners or heating elements to thoroughly broil or cook the same in a highly digestible form as distinguished from frying in grease. The drippings will pass down over the walls beneath and may be caught in the bucket 2l and removed at required intervals. Should the spindles not be removed from the take-off device, the engagement of the lower end of the spindle H52 with the cam |24 will cause the contacts 925 and |26 to be separated by del removed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carryingmy I invention into eifect, this is capable of variation and modication without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1..In a continuous broiler, spindles having peripherally projecting means to support an elongated mass of food to be cooked and means for gripping and holding said spindles at their opposite ends in rectilinear positions, means for moving said spindles in a circuitous path about a heating element, means for removing the spindles at a certain point, means for releasing the gripping and holding means prior to reaching said point and means to support the spindles after release for removal by the removing means.

2. A continuous broiler or the like including an endless carrier, said carrier provided with means for gripping the ends of spindles upon which masses of meat havebeen mounted and having means for turning the same as moved about a heating element and means for automatically removing the spindles.

3. A continuous broiler including an endless carrier having upper and lower spindle receiving members, vertical food carrying spindles engaged at Vtheir ends by said members, means for removing the spindles in vertical positions at a certainpoint in relation to the carrier and means for revolving the spindles as they are moved in an annular path about a burner.

4. A continuous broiler including an endless carrier having upper and lower spindle `receiving members, food carrying single spindles engaged -a't their ends by said members, means to cause thespindles to revolve when moved inla con'- tinuous path with the` carrier, a heating element 'within the carrier and exposed toward the spindles,` means forv removing the spindles from the carrier and means for stopping the carrier upon failure to removea` spindle from the last named means.

5. A continuous broiler including an endless carrier having upper and lower spindle receiving members, food carrying spindles in vertical positions engaged at their ends bysaid members, means to cause the spindles to revolve when moved in a continuous path with the carrier, a heating element within the carrier and exposed toward the spindles, means for guiding the spindles vertically into position to be engaged and means for releasing the spindles for vertical removal from the carrier.

6. A continuous broiling device including a cabinet, an endless heater therein, an endless carrier for movement around theheater, means for driving the carrier, means for vertically supporting spindles in the carrier with food thereon and means for automatically removing the spindles and maintaining the same in such position.

7. A broiler of the class described including a cabinet having a heating element of annular form, a carrier including endless members spaced apart and movable about the `heater in an orbital path, means carried by said endless members for removably gripping the upper and lower ends of spindles in vertical positions and having meat compressed about the same intermediately in elongated formation, means for actuating said carrier, a take-off device for removing the spindles from the carrier at a certain point in its path of travel and means to release the gripping means for engagement by the take-oil device.

8. A continuous broiler including horizontally m-ovable parallel spaced upper and lower endless carriers, an upright heater around which said carriers are movable, gripping members carried by said carriers, spindles gripped at their upper and lower ends by said members and having wings i 9. A continuous broiler including spaced upper and lower carriers, a heater around which said carriers are movable, opposed gripping members carried by said carriers, spindles comprising rods having wings to hold ground food thereon in a compressed mass tapering in opposite directions, means for positioning said spindles, means to cause automatic engagement of the gripping members with the ends of the spindles in vertical positions and means for automatically releasing and removing the spindles.

10. A continuous broiler including an oval shaped heating element, an endless carrier movable horizontally around said element, means for gripping the ends of vertical spindles in said carrier, means for vertically centering the spindles to be gripped, means for releasing the spindles and means for removing the spindles vertically from said carrier.

`upper and lower ends of spindles in said carrier,

means for centering and feedingthe spindles in vertical positions to be fgripped,fme`ans for releasing thespindles and a take-oilvv device to automatically remove -the vspindles from the `carrier 'in said positions. i

f i211' Afcontinuous broiler offthe class described comprisingsan annular heating element, an endless drive member movable vhorizontally around the heating element, said endless drive member having vertical spindle holding means, said spindles adapted to carry an` elongated mass of ground food thereon, means to mount and automatically engage the spindles at a certain position oi the endless drive member, means to automatically release the spindles at another point and means to simultaneously engage and remove the spindles from the endless drive member at the latter point.

13. A continuous broiler of the class described comprising an annular heating element, an endless drive member movable around the heating element, said endless drive member having spindle 1holding means, said spindles adapted to carry an elongated mass of ground food thereon, means to automatically engage the spindles at a certain position of the endless drive member, means to automatically release the spindles at another point, means to simultaneously remove the spindles from the endless drive member at the latter point and means to automatically stop the operation of the endless drive member upon failure to remove the spindles from the removing means.

le. A continuous broiler including a cabinet having an enlclosed heating element, upper and lower drive members movable in a path about the heating element and having members adapted to turn during such movement, said members having means to grip the ends of spindles on which masses of vertical ground food .are intermediately formed and held to be moved about said heating element and rotated, means to automatically engage the spindles on the drive members and rotatable means for engaging and removing said spindles irom said members.

l5. A continuous broiler including a cabinet having an enclosed heating element, upper and lower drive members movable in a path about the heating element and having members adapted to turn during such movement, said members having means to grip the ends of spindles on which masses of ground food are intermediately formed and held to be moved about said heating element and rotated, means for separating said gripping means at a certain point t0 permit removal of the spindles and hold them separated until another point is reached and means at the latter point for releasing the gripping means to engage the ends of the spindles inserted at such point.

i6. A continuous broiler including a cabinet having an enclosed heating element, upper and lower drive members movable in a path about the heating element and having members adapted to turn during such movement, said members having means to grip the ends of spindles on which masses of ground food are intermediately formed and held to be moved about said heating element and rotated, means for separating said gripping means at a certain point to permit removal of the spindles and hold them separated-until another point is reached,l means at the'latter point for causing the gripping means to engage the ends ofthe spindles inserted at such point and means for centering the spindles to be gripped.

K 17. A continuous broiler including a cabinet having anenc1osed heating element, upper and lower drive members movable in a path aboutY the heating element and having members adapted to turn during such movement, said members having means to grip the ends of spindles on which masses of ground food are intermediately vformed and held to be moved about said heating element andvrotated, means for separating said gripping means at a certain point to permit removal of the spindles and hold them separated until' another point is reached, means at the latter point for releasing the gripping means to engage the kends ofthe spindles inserted at such point, means for centering the spindles to be gripped and means for successively removing the spindles upon approach to the point of release thereof by the gripping means.

Y LAWRENCE HENLEY. 

